Experience Making Coffee with Tri Long in Hoi An old Town

Vietnamese coffee is not just a strong drink served over ice. At Tri Long Coffee, you learn how the small metal phin filter works, why condensed milk became part of the coffee ritual, and how egg, coconut, and salt change the finished cup. The hands-on format makes this more useful than simply ordering another cà phê sữa đá.

I like the small maximum group of 10, which should give you a fair chance to ask questions and handle the equipment yourself. I also like the mix of coffee history, roasting information, demonstrations, recipes, and a certificate to take home. The main caution is the course wording: some customers understood that they would make three specialty coffees plus a free phin coffee, but the actual session may involve only two specialty drinks.

Key points at a glance

• Three specialty coffee choices: Choose from aromatic egg coffee, refreshing coconut coffee, or salt coffee with a savory edge.
• Traditional phin lesson included: You also learn the basic method for brewing Vietnamese filter coffee.
• About 90 minutes: The session is long enough for instruction and hands-on preparation without taking half a day.
• Small class size: A maximum of 10 people makes this more personal than a large cooking-school format.
• Certificate and recipes: You can leave with written guidance for trying the drinks again at home.
• Old Town meeting point: The class begins and ends at Trí Long Coffee, 88 Phan Chu Trinh.

Starting at Trí Long Coffee on Phan Chu Trinh

Your class begins at Trí Long Coffee, at 88 Đ. Phan Chu Trinh in Hoi An’s Minh An ward. You return to the same place at the end, so there is no transport to arrange and no need to find your way to a second location.

That simple setup matters in Hoi An. A coffee class fits neatly into a morning walk, an afternoon break, or an evening around the Old Town. Since the listed duration is about one hour and 30 minutes, you can plan another activity afterward without giving up a full morning.

The booking includes a mobile ticket, and confirmation is provided at the time of booking. The class is capped at 10 people. That does not guarantee a private lesson, but it does keep the group small enough for a practical demonstration and some personal participation.

Learning why Vietnamese coffee tastes different

The opening lesson covers Vietnamese coffee culture and the background of the drinks you will make. This helps explain why the coffee tends to be intense, sweet, and slow-brewed rather than mild and quickly poured.

The traditional phin filter is central to the session. It is a compact metal brewer placed directly over your cup. Coffee grounds sit inside, and water passes through gradually. The method is simple, but the amount of coffee, water, pressure, and waiting time all affect the cup.

I like this part because it gives you a skill you can use after leaving Hoi An. You are not simply watching a barista prepare a drink. You are learning the basic idea behind one of Vietnam’s most recognizable coffee rituals.

The class also discusses roasting and the wider coffee business. The information is presented as part of the practical lesson, not as a separate museum-style lecture. Expect an explanation of how beans are prepared, how the brewing method affects flavor, and how the specialty drinks build on the basic coffee.

Choosing between egg, coconut, and salt coffee

Tri Long offers three specialty courses, but the exact number of drinks included in your booking needs careful attention. The choices are special egg coffee, coconut coffee, and salt coffee. You should confirm at booking or with the provider which two, or how many, are included in your selected session.

Egg coffee

Egg coffee is the most unusual choice for many first-time visitors. It combines strong Vietnamese coffee with a silky custard-style topping sweetened with fresh cow’s milk. The result is aromatic and dessert-like, though the coffee remains important underneath.

This is the pick for you if you enjoy creamy drinks and want the most distinctive lesson. The interesting part is the contrast between the dark, bitter coffee and the soft sweet topping. It also gives the instructor a chance to explain how a small number of familiar ingredients can change the character of a basic brew.

Coconut coffee

Coconut coffee is the easier choice for anyone who likes cool, sweet, tropical flavors. It is described as refreshing and delicious, and it pairs the bold coffee base with coconut.

I would choose this course on a hot Hoi An afternoon, especially if you want something less heavy than egg coffee. The coconut version is also likely to appeal to people who are not yet used to Vietnam’s very strong coffee. The supplied information does not specify the exact temperature, portion, or coconut preparation, so ask the instructor if those details matter to you.

Salt coffee

Salt coffee sounds strange until you understand the point. The salt adds a savory twist to the coffee and can change how you notice sweetness and bitterness.

This is the most useful choice if you want to try a drink that feels less familiar. It is also the option that produced the clearest hands-on account of learning to prepare both salt and coconut coffee, with the instructor demonstrating the process before participants tried it themselves.

The free phin course needs clear expectations

The traditional Vietnamese phin filter lesson is described as free alongside the specialty courses. That means you can learn the standard filter method even if you select an egg, coconut, or salt coffee course.

The important issue is how the offer is interpreted. The wording can make it sound as if you receive three specialty coffees plus an additional phin session. At least one booking resulted in an expectation of three drinks, while the person was told at the venue that only two coffees were included.

I would treat the phin lesson as an included instructional extra, not automatically as a fourth prepared drink. Before you pay, confirm these points:

• How many coffees will you make?
• Which specialty options are included?
• Is the phin coffee a tasting, a full drink, or a brewing demonstration?
• Can you choose the drinks on the day?

This is not a small distinction when the class costs $17 per person. The price can be fair for a 90-minute, hands-on lesson, but only if the number of drinks matches your understanding.

How hands-on the class is likely to be

The format includes demonstrations followed by your own preparation. You should expect the instructor to explain the method, show how the ingredients are handled, and then let you make the drinks yourself.

That practical step is the strongest reason to book. Watching a coffee demonstration can be pleasant, but it does not teach you how much coffee to use or how the texture should look. Making the drink gives you a better sense of the timing and balance.

The instruction is also designed to be light and entertaining. The team uses humor along with coffee information, which should help keep the session from feeling like a formal lecture. No individual guide names are provided, so you cannot request a particular instructor in advance.

The class ends with recipes and a certificate. The recipes are useful if you want to recreate the drinks at home, while the certificate is more of a pleasant souvenir than a professional qualification. Do not book this as barista training. It is a short cultural and practical workshop for curious coffee drinkers.

What makes the small group useful

With a maximum of 10 participants, the class has a better chance of feeling personal. You can watch the instructor’s demonstration without standing far back, and you should have more room to ask about ingredients or brewing steps.

A small group also helps when the class reaches the tasting stage. Coffee preparation has small visual details, such as the texture of the egg mixture or the way water moves through a phin. In a group of 10 or fewer, those details are easier to see.

Still, the maximum is not a promise that every person receives equal one-on-one time. The session is shared, and the actual amount of personal help may depend on the number of people booked that day. If you want a private lesson, this is not advertised as one.

Is $17 a fair price?

At $17 per person, this is priced above a normal cup of Vietnamese coffee but below a full cooking class or extended food tour. The value depends on what you want from the visit.

If you simply want to drink egg or coconut coffee, buying a cup in Hoi An will cost less. In that case, the class is not the economical choice. You are paying for instruction, preparation, cultural background, a roasting explanation, recipes, and the chance to make the drink yourself.

I consider the price reasonable for coffee fans, especially if you use the recipes later. It is also a good fit for couples or families looking for a short indoor activity. The value drops if you expect three specialty drinks, a fourth phin coffee, or a full professional barista course.

The clearest way to protect the value is to confirm the drink count before the session begins. The course description lists three choices, but that does not necessarily mean all three are included. A quick question can prevent an avoidable disappointment.

Who will enjoy this coffee class most?

I would recommend Tri Long Coffee to you if you like food workshops, want a break from sightseeing, or are curious about how Vietnamese drinks are made. It works particularly well for people who enjoy trying unusual flavors rather than ordering the same coffee they drink at home.

Egg coffee suits dessert lovers. Coconut coffee is a good choice for anyone who prefers a cooler, sweeter drink. Salt coffee is best for the adventurous drinker who wants to understand a less familiar flavor combination.

Families may also find the 90-minute format manageable, though the available information does not specify a minimum age or special children’s arrangements. Coffee-sensitive visitors should remember that the drinks are coffee-based, and no caffeine-free option is listed.

This is less suitable if you want a long tour of coffee farms, a formal lesson in professional roasting, or a broad food tour around Hoi An. The focus stays on Vietnamese coffee culture and making selected drinks at one café.

Practical details before you book

The activity starts and finishes at Trí Long Coffee, 88 Đ. Phan Chu Trinh, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam. Since there is no transport segment, you must make your own way to the meeting point.

The duration is approximately one hour and 30 minutes. Allow a little extra time if you want to ask questions, collect your recipes, or look over the certificate after the practical portion.

A mobile ticket is accepted, and confirmation arrives when you book. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. The provider is DN Tour.

The overall rating is 3.7 from three published ratings, so the sample is small. The strongest positive points are the clear demonstrations, the staff’s coffee knowledge, the chance to prepare the drinks yourself, and the recipes and certificate at the end. The main negative point is the unclear wording about how many coffees are included. Treat that as a booking question, not something to discover after you arrive.

Should you book Tri Long Coffee?

Book it if you want a friendly, compact coffee workshop with hands-on preparation and a useful introduction to the phin filter. The small group limit, recipe handout, certificate, and choice of egg, coconut, or salt coffee give the $17 price a fair chance of working for you.

I would be more cautious if your main goal is to sample all three specialty drinks. Confirm the exact inclusions first, especially the relationship between the selected specialty course and the free phin lesson.

For most coffee lovers spending time in Hoi An Old Town, this is a worthwhile short activity when expectations are clear. Choose the drink that matches your taste, ask how many coffees you will make, and enjoy the fact that you leave with a method you can try again at home.

FAQ

Where does the coffee experience begin?

It begins at Trí Long Coffee, 88 Đ. Phan Chu Trinh, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point, Trí Long Coffee.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately one hour and 30 minutes.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $17 per person.

What specialty coffee courses are available?

You can choose from special egg coffee, coconut coffee, and salt coffee.

Is Vietnamese phin filter coffee included?

The Vietnamese phin filter coffee course is described as free alongside the specialty courses. Confirm whether it is provided as a full drink, tasting, or demonstration, and ask how many total coffees are included.

How many people can join the class?

The activity accepts a maximum of 10 participants.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.